Am I Lazy, Sh*t, or Just Burnt Out?
You ever show up to a casting, knowing you’ve got the look, the vibe, the energy, only to feel like a mannequin standing there? Or maybe you’re trying to film a self-tape, but every take feels forced, stiff, off? Then the self-talk starts creeping in…
"Maybe I’m just not cut out for this."
"Maybe I don’t have it."
"Maybe I should pack it in before someone realises I’m done."
Just stop there.
Remember, this is tough industry, it can mess with your head if you let it. The constant rejection, the waiting, the silent rejections where they “loved your look” but went with someone else, it builds up. And if you’re feeling stuck, unmotivated, or questioning if you even care anymore, you’re probably dealing with one of three things:
Laziness (unlikely, but let’s check).
Feeling like you’re not good enough (a lie).
Burnout (the silent killer of creativity).
Let’s look at it.
1. Are You Actually Lazy? Doubt It.
Lazy people don’t put themselves in rooms where they can be rejected. Lazy people don’t bother learning self-tape techniques, updating their portfolios, or waking up at 5 AM for a shoot in the freezing cold.
But avoidance? That’s different.
If you’re suddenly dodging opportunities, delaying tapes, or feeling like everything’s a drag, it’s not laziness, it’s fear, doubt, or exhaustion in disguise.
Real laziness looks like:
Making excuses before you even try.
Not feeling anything when you miss out.
Choosing comfort over progress every time.
So if you’re showing up, even inconsistently, and you care—you’re not lazy. You’re just stuck.
2. Feeling Like You’re Sh*t? That’s Just the Industry Playing Tricks.
This business is brutal. You could give the best audition of your life and still hear nothing. You could land a massive campaign, then not book anything for months.
When that happens, it’s easy to spiral:
"Maybe I’m just not good looking enough."
"Maybe I peaked and didn’t realise it."
"Maybe I’m just not a leading role kind of face."
But feeling like you’re not good enough doesn’t mean you aren’t. It just means you’re measuring yourself by something out of your control.
The trick is: who’s doing the measuring?
Social media? A highlight reel.
Other actors/models? Different journeys.
The industry? Fickle and ever-changing.
The people you admire? They’ve felt this too. The difference is, they didn’t let it stop them.
3. Burnout: The Silent Killer of Performance
This is the one no one talks about. Burnout doesn’t scream, it whispers. It looks like:
Feeling nothing when you get a big opportunity.
Struggling to find the energy to even do a quick self-tape.
Losing your spark, the thing that made you love this in the first place.
And here’s the worst part: burnout looks like laziness. It makes you procrastinate, avoid things, and doubt yourself. But the cause isn’t a lack of discipline—it’s exhaustion.
So, What Now? How Do You Fix It?
1. Diagnose It Right
Before you beat yourself up, ask yourself:
Do I still care about this industry? (If yes, not lazy.)
Am I comparing myself to impossible standards? (If yes, not sh*t.)
Have I been pushing too hard without real rest? (If yes, burnout.)
2. Take a Real Break
Not just a “day off” where you scroll Instagram and feel worse. A proper reset.
Watch films without analysing performances.
Step away from castings for a week and do something completely different.
Sleep. Hydrate. Move your body, not just for aesthetics, but for energy.
3. Reset Your Approach
If you’re stuck, switch things up. New photographers, new projects, new ways to practise.
If you’re overwhelmed, simplify. Focus on one thing, not ten.
If you’re burnt out, treat recovery like part of the job. Because it is.
Final Thought:
You’re not lazy. You’re not sh*t. You’re just human. And humans get tired, overthink, and burn out. The trick is knowing when to push through and when to step back.
So, what’s it for you? Lazy, sh*t, or burnt out? And more importantly, what are you gonna do about